Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

David Montgomery vs Khalil HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

David Montgomery is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

David Montgomery is the better fantasy play this season.

David Montgomery has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.3-PPG advantage is real (9.1 to 5.8), and David Montgomery's 9 touchdowns show scoring upside. Khalil Herbert is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBDetroit Lions#33PPG LEADER

David Montgomery

PPG

9.1

Games

Rush Yds

716

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

192

Bye

Week 6

RBCincinnati Bengals#99

Khalil Herbert

PPG

5.8

Games

Rush Yds

248

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

David Montgomery

Khalil Herbert

Head to Head

9.1 PPG5.8 PPG

17 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

David Montgomery: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #33 at the position). Khalil Herbert: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, David Montgomery is producing at 41% of elite pace and Khalil Herbert at 26%. That ranking gap means David Montgomery carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Montgomery vs Khalil Herbert: The Full Breakdown

David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. David Montgomery averaged 9.1 PPG across 17 games with the Detroit Lions, while Khalil Herbert posted 5.8 PPG in 12 appearances for the Cincinnati Bengals.

A 3.3-PPG gap gives David Montgomery the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. David Montgomery ran for 716 yards and 8 touchdowns; Khalil Herbert posted 248 and 2. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One scheduling note: David Montgomery is off Week 6 and Khalil Herbert Week 12. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire David Montgomery at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Khalil Herbert is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: David Montgomery (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Khalil Herbert (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•David Montgomery outscored Khalil Herbert by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•David Montgomery played 17 games in 2025 compared to Khalil Herbert's 12. That durability gap means David Montgomery contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•David Montgomery scored 9 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Montgomery vs Khalil Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Montgomery	Khalil Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.1	5.8
Games Played	17	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	155	70
Rushing Yards	716	248
Rush Yds/Game	42.1	20.7
Rushing TDs	8	2
Receptions	24	12
Receiving Yards	192	85
Targets	29	0
Total TDs	9	2
Age	28	-
Experience	6 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 12

Summary

David Montgomery outscored Khalil Herbert by 3.3 PPG in 2025 (9.1 to 5.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start David Montgomery or Khalil Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, David Montgomery has the edge at 9.1 PPG compared to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert average in 2025?▾

David Montgomery averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Khalil Herbert averaged 5.8 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Montgomery (DET) has a bye in Week 6, and Khalil Herbert (CIN) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is David Montgomery or Khalil Herbert a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

David Montgomery outscored Khalil Herbert by 3.3 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.